The House Carpenter- Martin (AR) 1962 Parler
[From: Ozark Folk Song Collection- Reel 401 Item 7. Collected by Brenda Jo Upton. Not sure if Parler was involved with this version, however, I'm designating it part of her collection.
This version appears to be similar to the version once sung by Fred High, "Matt" in the opening line appears to be her name. However, because she responds similarly in the second line, "matt" is just misconstrued for "met."
R. Matteson 2016]
THE HOUSE CARPENTER - Sung by Mrs. Montie Martin of Jasper, Ark. on April 25, 1962
"Well matt, well matt," said the seafaring man.
"Well matt, well matt," said she.
If you will leave your house carpenter
And go along with me,
I'll take you where the grass grows green
On the banks of the sweet Marie
On the banks of the sweet Marie.
She called her three little babes up to her knees
And kissed them all three,
Saying stay at home with your poppy, my dears,
And keep him company
And keep him company.
She had not been on ship two weeks
I'm sure it were not threes,
Til she began to weep
And she wept most bitterly
And she wept most bitterly.
Are you weeping for gold
Or are you weeping for pearls,
Are you weeping for your house carpenter
That you left when you come with me here
That you left when you come with me here?
I'm not a-weeping for gold,
I'm not a-weeping for pearls.
If I had ten thousand pounds of gold I'd give it all to thee
To be on land once more
And my three little babes to see
And my three little babes to see.
If you had ten thousand pounds of gold
You'd give it all to me,
But to be on land you never shall again
Nor your three little babes to see
Nor your three little babes to see.